A Florida man lost his grandson to state custody after he allowed the 10-year-old boy to get his initials tattooed on his leg.

Jerry Garrison told NBC News that everyone in the family has their initials permanently etched on their bodies in ink. He didn't see a problem with allowing the unidentified boy to do the same.

When representatives from the state Department of Children and Families came to Garrison's Jacksonville home this week -- on other allegations -- they noticed the tattoo on the boy's right leg. The boy was taken into custody pending an investigation.

"I didn't see why a tattoo was such a big issue to begin with, and I didn't see where none of this was right," he told the station through tears. "My little son called me and said, dad, I'm so scared, I want to come home so bad. When you have your youngin' call and tell you he's scared, I want to go put my arms around him and say, 'Son, it's all right, it's really all right.' But no, I can't."